Central heating - starting from scratch

Tahiti

I'm just interested in peoples views really.

My Grandparents have a house without central heating, and they are looking to have a system fitted. Now what would you go for? A gas fired combi boiler and rads, or something else?

Considering gas prices, he's questioning the best choice of system.

quatro

I am fascinated by marble or 'epoxy stone' radiators which conduct heat very efficiently and have to be placed on inside walls and wired in. They are from about £350 each and large rooms may need 2, but no maintenance in the future, no gas bills just electricity bills, - and no gas pipes or water pipes to plumb in.
A combi system would cost £2500 - £3000 at least from scratch and that would pay for 5-6 marble radiators [approx].
If you do a google dearch it makes fascinating reading........

ariba10

Tahiti wrote:

I'm just interested in peoples views really.

My Grandparents have a house without central heating, and they are looking to have a system fitted. Now what would you go for? A gas fired combi boiler and rads, or something else?

Considering gas prices, he's questioning the best choice of system.

Unless they have access to free solid fuel of some sort, I would recomend gas cental heating and if it can be afforded a Condensing combi boiler.

bruce2110

depending on your grandperants ages, they may be able to get grants or even the whole lot paid for - contact your local council they should be able to offer advice on any scemes running in your area.


if you look back through previous threads on here or look in the utilities board/fuel and other heating, you will find many threads on pricing for central heating systems ect, you will also find threads on wich is best ie system boilers (boiler and cylinder) or an all in one combination boilers

you could all ways have a look round various builders merchants(plumbing) as this will give you idea on what the prices are and what offers are available ect.

if you are intrested in solid fuel, this could be a cheeper option but it does has its own pitfalls, check the fuel and other heating board for info on this or just google it and see what comes up!!


cheers Bruce2110

virgin_moneysaver

I don't know if its just our local council, but I've been told that with all this certification re electrics & double glazing for example, central heating is going the same way with energy efficiency & the environment & stamping out cowboy outfits etc that I've been advised that if a NEW system is being installed it has to be a condensing combi boiler et al

pageee2004_2

Hi, simular situation. bought our house 4 years ago, have had to decorate every room ( that blinking Carol Smiley has a lot to answer for ). Searched and searched for good boiler + 8 rads and seen a newspaper advert for Mr Central Heating (https://www.mrcentralheating.com) the prices are very reasonable and offer condencing and non-condencing boilers + rads + copper pipe + rad valves and other bits and pieces... From what i can remember the prices start from 799.99 which, from shopping around is a very good price. They offer upgrades as the boilers for the cheaper price is not well known ( I have never heard of them ).

Hope this helps...

Tahiti

Thanks for all of the replies. He's a bit of a creative type, and loves gadgets etc. They looked into the grant, but for whatever reason, couldn't get one.

He's more the type that likes the sound of solar panels, and renewable heat sources so I will have a look at the other board too. He doesn't mind paying a bit more for a more efficient system (long term), and he's got me interested in his mad cap plans!

He has been quoted £3,200 for a gas fired heating system using a combi (couldn't tell you the spec), but he's not hard up and doesn't mind spending more than double that up front for something more interesting, and cheaper to run long term.

gromituk

Make sure that the system is designed with larger radiators than traditionally used, because a condensing boiler is only at its most efficient if the water is circulating at a lower temperature than with a normal boiler.

I look into solar panels from time to time. I haven't decided whether the vacuum tube ones are significantly better or just hype. You use a much larger hot water cylinder, the top part of which can be heated by the boiler and the bottom half by the solar panels, so that you can always have hot water whilst not wasting the potential of the solar panels when sunny weather is not guaranteed. It may be possible to design a system that incorporates a combi boiler.